Festive spirit in good nick all around Kerry
WITH the weather as glorious at it was over the weekend, you’d have been forgiven for forgetting that we were not actually in the peak of summer but in fact closing in on Christmas. Only the hundreds of people dressed in some wonderful Santa, elf and reindeer costumes running around the streets of Tralee on Sunday afternoon gave a clue to the season that’s in it.
The Tralee Santa 5km Fun Run, now in its fourth year, is run in memory of Tralee teenager, Fiona Moore, who passed away back in 2013 aged just 16 from Pulmonary Hypertension, while waiting on a lung transplant. This year’s event was again a huge success for organisers as it drew a huge crowd of close to 500 people, with a large number of couples, parents and children embracing the festive spirit and energy of the day.
The charitable event has raised close to €30,000 for its chosen charities since its inception with all the proceeds from this year’s run going towards the Barretstown organisation, which offers free, medically endorsed camps and programmes that are designed for children and their families living with cancer and serious illness.
The run kicks off what is set to be a cheery few weeks for Kerry as towns and villages all over the county get set to ring in the festive period with a whole whost of activities set to entertain the masses.
Christmas in Killarney will as usual, be full of excitement as the Christmas Island sets up in town from December 16 to 23 with a funfair and sleigh rides, toy soldiers, wishing wall, a Christmas Crib and and refreshments happening throughout the week.